PANGLAO, BOHOL, Philippines — Political battle in this town has started brewing between the group of ABC (which stands for former mayor Benedicto Alcala, former vice mayor Evangeline Bon-Lazaro, and Cheche–the nickname of former mayor Doloreich Dumaluan) against the group of MF (representing incumbents, Mayor Leonila Montero and Vice Mayor Pedro Fuertes).
Dumaluan; with several supporters, yesterday stormed the public market in a protest rally to dramatize their disgust against the plan of Montero and Fuertes to apply for a P35-million loan with a local bank to build a new municipal hall.
The former mayor told the crowd in front of the market that, if plans don't go haywire, he will combine forces with Alcala and Bon-Lazaro in "trying to bring down Montero's administration because of "corruption and immorality," under the ABC's group that he coined as PALICO (Panglao Against Loan, Immorality and Corruption).
Without hiding his ambition for a political comeback, Dumaluan however did not say if he will be the standard bearer of the ABC for the 2016 elections.
Alcala, for his part, said in a radio interview yesterday that he would be inclined to team up with Dumaluan although there were no formal talks on this matter just yet. He hinted, however, that he could even settle for a post of councilor, under the Dumaluan team.
Dumaluan and Alcala were bitter political enemies in the past. The latter lost for the mayoralty and then joined forces in the 2013 elections but lost to the group of Montero.
Bon-Lazaro also ran against Montero. She lost but her running mate Fuertes won for the vice mayoralty post.
Fuertes, in earlier interview, said the joined forces with Montero to show to the Panglaoanons that the executive and legislative can unite and work together for peace and progress of this premier tourist town, unlike the divisive atmosphere in the past administrations. — Ric V. Obedencio (FREEMAN)